Eight years ago Dan Ashworth described Gareth Southgate as the “outstanding candidate” to become England manager.
Now Manchester United ’s incoming sporting director will look to bring the national team boss to Old Trafford this summer after INEOS earmarked him as theirNo1 target to replace Erik ten Hag.
Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle after attempting to manoeuvre his way out of St James’ Park to join United. And while that switch is not yet official, the revelation that INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is eager to appoint Southgate after the Euros points to clear succession plans being in place.
Ashworth and Southgate have been gushing in their praise of each other for helping to transform the culture and structure of England teams.
United’s new part-owners now look to be pinning their hopes on the duo repeating the trick to restore the club to its place among Europe’s best.
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But Southgate has already developed strong rapport with key figures at INEOS. That includes Sir Dave Brailsford, the former cycling chief who is one of three men tasked with overhauling United’s footballing structure since INEOS’ purchase of a 25 per cent share of the club.
For several years Ashworth, Brailsford and Southgate have been part of a knowledge platform named Leaders P8, which has also featured Arsene Wenger and former England rugby union head coach Eddie Jones.
Others with links to INEOS are in the club too, including Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff and their sailing team principal Sir Ben Ainslie.
Brailsford and Southgate have been to see a Super Bowl together and are in a WhatsApp group that was created from meeting in Leaders P8 and shares ideas around developing and sustaining successful sporting environments. The cycling supremo also became part of an FA technical advisory board created by St George’s Park chairman David Sheepshanks around the same time that Southgate took control of the senior England team.
England players like Harry Maguire would benefit from Gareth Southgate's arrival (Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)Except it is the Ashworth-Southgate dynamic that INEOS may feel can re-establish United as genuine contenders.
Southgate credits Ashworth with being the mastermind behind a structure that has seen underage England teams enjoy significant successes. And while the senior men’s team is waiting for its major trophy, Ashworth describes Southgate as an “exceptional leader”.
He fits with Ratcliffe’s desire for United to focus homegrown talent going forward. Yet turning Carrington into St George’s Park would be no easy feat and it is almost 15 years since Southgate was used to the cadence of a club job.
His FA contract runs until December, though clarity around his plans beyond the Euros may be sought soon. If nothing else, this week’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium have taken on an added dimension.
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